PHILADELPHIA – As the Phillies took the field for batting practice before a September home game against the Mets, a familiar face waited by the dugout steps.
Phillies players, coaches and staff were fired up to see Cameron Shayne, a 53-year-old mixed martial arts guru from Montana with a gray beard and a Hollywood backstory.
“The hips are a little tight. I need you,” first base coach Paco Figueroa said to Shayne.
Edmundo Sosa gave him a hug. J.T. Realmuto carved a half hour out of his busy pregame routine to chat. Max Kepler gave Shayne, a fellow lefty, one of his custom gloves.